Front mounted tractor mower



Feb. 24, 1953 w. w. HooLEY FRONT MQUNTED TRACTOR MowER Filed Aug. s, 194s 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTO RN EYE Feb- 24, 1953 w. w. HOQLEY 2,629,219

FRONT MOUNTED TRACTOR MOWER Filed Aug. 3, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTD RN EYE Feb. 24, 1953 w. w. HOOLEY 2,629,219

FRONT MOUNTED TRACTOR MowER Filed Aug. 3, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 9 7,9 INVENTOR.

m" @es ln-K ATTE) RN EYS Feb. 24, 1953 w. w. HooLEY 2,629,219

FRONT MOUNTED TRACTOR MowER Filed Aug. s, 194e 4 sheets-sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

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ATTE! R N EYB Patented Feb. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRoNT MOUNTED TRACTOR MoWR Wesley W. Hooley, Hammett, Idaho Application August 3, 1948., Serial No. 42,210 2" claims. (cl.` st ptr My present invention relates to the broad class of harvesters of the reciprocating sickle typepropelled and operated automotive vehicles or tractors for cutting a standing crop of hay, and more specically to an improved front mounted tractor mower that includes a flexible mowing implement that is resiliently mounted on and adjustably suspended from a` tractor to accommodate and adapt the centrally arranged front cutting mechanism to irregularities in the surface of a field, thus insuring smooth operation of the cut ters or reciprocating knives in cutting a swathe, and laying the cut hay in correct arrangement on the eld for removal of the crop.

Power take-on? mechanism is employed for transmitting rotary motion from the tractor shaft through a power shaft to the reciprocableV cutting mechanism; manually controlled mechanism is employed for adjusting the resiliently supported and iiexible mowing mechanism to irregularities in the ground surface; and power operated means are employed for elevating and otherwise vertically adjusting the implement with relation to the tractor.

The invention includes 'a minimum number of parts that may be manufactured with facility and at low cost of production, and the parts may be assembled with convenience to provide a durable implement that is simple in construction and operation and efficient in theperformance of its required functions. The invention consists in certain novel features of constructionand come binations and arrangements of parts as will hereinater he` described and ,more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings-I have illus-A trated a complete example of a physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arrangedin accord. with` one modev I have devised for thepractical application of the principles of my invention. i Y c Figure 1 is a top plan View of a `front mounted tractor mower in which my invention is physically embodied. Y c c A Figure 2 is a detail plan View of the crank and pitman connection between the rotary power shaft and" the reciprocating f cutters" or knives. c

Figure' 3 is a View in elevation at the right hand side of the tractor, with some parts in section, showingA the reciprocating" cutters` in operative position.

Figure i is a detail 4vertical sectional viewY at y linen- 4 of Fig. 3 disclosingthe'power take-off mechanism from the tractor! Figure 5 is a vertical sectional viewat' line 5-5 Figa-e 7 is a View in elevational: the 18a hand.

side of the tractor propelled implement with ther cutting mechanismpelevmated.` l y c Figure Sis an enlarged detail plan view o1' the iii-anual controlsl for adjusting or ,tilting the flexible and resiliently mounted implement and its cutting mechanism; and Figure 9 is a sectional elevation at line 9-9`of Fig. 8.

Figure 10 is an enlarged verticalsectional View toward the rear end cf the rocker arm mechanism at line lll--ll'oi Figi; and Fig-ure 11 is 'a similar enlarged sectional view at line ll--ll of Fig. 1. i y y Figure l2 is an enlarged diagrammatic trans` verse sectional View `taken online lle-I2 `of Figure 7 with parts in section and parts omitted, showing the manner of tilting` the resilient cutting mechanisrnmto the leftwith relation to irregularitiesin the eld.; and Figure ll'isa view similar to Figure 12 but with the cuttingmechanism tilted to the right of the tractor.` p A Figure 14 is a `bottom plan view showing the universal ball and socket or swivel joint between the supporting `frame of the tractor and the diverging'radius bars or frame of the mowing implement; and Figure 15 is adivertical sectional viewat the universal joint taken on line lE-E of Figure '7'. V i

Figure 16 is a fragmentary plan View showing the modified arrangement between the oscillating rocker arm and the reciprocating cutters or knives. c A

InV order that thegeneral arrangement and utility of parts may readily be understood I have shown a standard type'oftractor rI* with traction wheels W, andthe front steeringwheels S that are ccntrolled by the steering gear readily accessible t thefel-river` whovoccfupies theseat in the design shown', tractor` is equipped` with` a transversely disposed drawbar I with a cross' bar" 2 which are" positioned at the rear of me tractor, and connected by arms a" te the axle housing 'l The cutter elements` are positioned acrosstlie front oftlietractor and supported by radius rods 5 and which entend fromthe draw bar to a cutter bar "l, thereby forming a triangu lan-shaped frame, withfthe cutter` bar formingI `the base and spaced ahead' of theiorwardend of the tractor.

"The radius rods 5 and' are formed vof angle irons, andthe roti" 5f isbolted tothe cutter bar at l o the point, whereas the bar 6 supports thecutter Abar through cutter operating mechanism. The

rods 5 and 6 are joined at the rear as shown in Figure 14, with the ends 9 connected to a ball I0 in a split sphere II, the sides of which are provided with flanges I2 which are connected to the drawbar I by bolts I3. The ball I and socket II provide a universal or swivel joint by which the cutter bar may be raised or lowered as desired. The frame of the cutter bar is also adapted to be adjusted laterally to tilt the cutting mechanism to the right or left to compensate for unevenness of the ground.

The under surface of the cutter bar is provided with a plurality of spaced arcuate shoes I4 which space the cutting knives I5 from the ground, providing ground-runners protecting the cutting knives. The implement is provided with a pair of dividing rods I5 and I1 which are positioned equidistant from the center, and located above the cutter bar for guiding the grass toward each side as it is cut.

The forward edges I8 of the dividing rods are notched to provide teeth as shown in Figure 1, and the forward ends curve downwardly and rearwardly to prevent riding down the standing grass as the grass is separated or divided to the right and left as the cutter advances. The dividing rods are supported by forwardly extending rods I9, the rear ends of which are connected to the respective radius rods 5 and E. The rear ends ofthe dividing bars are mounted on the Gutter bar 1, and these areV positioned to prevent the grass from falling on a rocker arm and frame positioned behind the cutter bar.

The device may also be provided with a plurality of spaced shoes 2I with arcuate ends that may extend rearwardly from the cutter bar which mayprovide means for laying the cut grass in swaths or as desired on the field.

The cutter bar 1 has sufficient rigidity to support the sicklebar 1a with the knives thereon, and the rear edge slopes from a substantial thickness at the center to comparatively narrow outer ends.

The cutting knives'l5 'are mounted on the reciprocable sickle bar and the outer portions of the knives I5b at the ends are removed so that they will not protrude beyond 'the ends of the bar 1 while operating. lThe usual guards 2Ia. extend forwardly from the forward edgeA of the bar 1 and the sickle bar is maintained in sliding er1- gagement with the bar 1 by cleats 22 which are bolted to the bar 1 by the same bolts that hold the guards associated therewith. A center knife I5a is provided and is comparatively narrow, as compared with the adjacent knives I5. or guards 2| are equally spaced apart whereby the centers of the knivesV I5 arranged on one side of the center knife I5a register with the centers of the fingers 2|, while at the same time the knives I5 on the other side of the center knife I5a are in between the fingers ZI so that the power required to actuate the cutter is reduced.

"The sickle bar'1a is reciprocated through a diamond-shaped rocker arm 23 that is positioned longitudinally of the tractor and mounted to actuate in a horizontal plane, being pivotally mounted by a pin 24 on a plate 25. The plate 25 is suspended, at the rear from theradius rod,

6 by a bracket 26,.and the forward end is rigidly bolted to the cutter bar 1. The forward end of the rocker arm is connected by a link 21 through a ball and socket joint 28 to thesicklebar 1a, and the forward end of theV rocker arm is positioned under a guide formed by a cross strap 29 mounted on the plate 25. As illustrated in Fig- Fingers r 4 ure 16, which shows a modification of the rocker arm connection, the forward end of the rocker arm is provided with an extending knob 30 that coacts with a socket 3| in the sickle bar 1b, which actuates the cutters I5 with a reciprocating movement.

In this design, the rocker arm 23a is pivotally mounted on a pin 24a on the plate 25. The rear end of the rocker arm is provided with an extension 2312, as shown in Figure 10, that is slidably mounted in a slot 32a in a bar 32 on the plate 25, which provides guiding and holding means for this end of the rocker arm. This end of the rocker arm is connected by a pitman rod 33 through a universal joint 34 to an eccentric pin on a disk 35 that is mounted on a stub shaft 35, which is journaled in a bearing 31 on a frame 38 that is secured to brackets 39 which are bolted to the tractor. Between the rigidly mounted bearing frame 38, at the longitudinal center of the tractor, and the plate 25,isa horizontal brace 40 which is flexibly connected at the point 4I to the plate 25 and at the point 42 to the bearing 31 which assists in stabilizing the implement in its various adjusted positions.

'The eccentric diskl 35 is rotated by a power shaft 43 which is connected to the stub shaft 35 by a universal joint Ik The rear end of the shaft 43 is actuated by the power take-Gif shaft 45 of the tractor through a pulley 5S on the shaft 45, a belt 41, and a pulley 48 on a stub shaft 4S, which is journaled on the cross bar 2 by a bearing 50, and connected to the shaft e3 by a universal joint 5I.

The triangular frame of the pivotally mounted mowing implement is resiliently suspended and supported for adjustment from the opposite sides of the tractor T to insure flexibility of the cutting mechanism in travelling over uneven or rough ground in the field and to permit the cutting sections to automatically adapt themselves Vto these irregular conditions.

For this purpose a pair of upright suspending bars 52 and 53 are located one at each side of the tractor, and each is coupled at 5d to the radiusV integral with and project forwardly from a pair of axially aligned rock shafts 6i and 52 respectively mounted transversely of the tractor in bearings 53 on a bearing plate 54 rigidiy attached to the top portion of the tractor.

The triangular implement frame may be rocked in its swivel connection I l, and the two suspend--4 ing spring bars 52 and 53 may selectively be manually raised or lowered by the driver in the: seat B to adapt the iexibie implement to the ground surface as indicated in Figs. 12 and 13. In combination with the manual controls poweroperated means are provided for elevating the implement to an inoperative position. V

For this purpose, a manually operated ratchet lever 65 is connected by a pivot pin 65a by a link 66 to an arm 61 of the rock shaft 6 I, and the lever 65 .is pivotally mounted on an axle .6B where it is'readily accessible for the driver of the tractor, and a second ratchet lever 69 is pivoted on the axle 68 and connected by link l0 to an arm 1I of the rock shaft 62.

As a power operated mechanism for thus elevating and lowering the front portion of the triangular implement-frame on the central swivel bearing II at the rear of the tractor, a cable 12 is anchored at '.'3 to a fixed bracket 14, and the looped end of the cable passes around a sheave or roller '5 journaled on a shaft 16 that is carried by arms 77 of the stationary quadrants 8U and 8| that coact with the two levers 65 and 69. This looped cable is extended forwardly of the tractor, and its front end is attached to the connecting rod 82 of a hydraulic cylinder 18 positioned at the forward end of the tractor and connected to a uid pressure system through tubes 83, with an operating valve 19 therein by which the cylinder may be manually controlled.

With the parts arranged in this manner, the operator on the seat D of the tractor may raise or lower the cutter bar and readily adjust the position thereof, and when it is desired to transport the implement from one place to another the complete operating instrumentalities may be elevated as shown in Figure 7.

It will be understood that other modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A mower attachment for a tractor comprising a horizontally disposed drawbar arranged transversely at the rear of the tractor and secured thereto, a pair of diverging radius rods having their rear ends dening an apex, a ground engaging member extending forwardly from the front portion of one of said radius rods and arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tractor, a ball and socket joint connecting said apex with said drawbar, a cutter bar arranged forwardly of said tractor and extending transversely between the other of said radius rods and said ground engaging member, a plurality of spaced parallel arcuate shoes arranged along the lower surface of said cutter bar, a vertically disposed bar extending upwardly from each of said radius rods, said bars being provided with a plurality of spaced openings in their upper portions for receiving a securing element, a pair of crank arms mounted on said tractor and having sliding engagement adjacent their ends with said bars, a coil spring circumposed on the upper por.. tion of each of said bars and bearing against said securing element and against said crank arms, and manually operable means connected to said crank arms for adjusting the same and said cutter bar.

2. The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said cutter bar is provided with at least two groups of first contiguous cutting knives of uniform width having contiguous relation to a second cutting knife of substantially half the width of said first cutting knives, said cutter bar also being provided with a group of uniformly spaced cutter guards, whereby the knives of each group of cutting knives will have a different relationship to their corresponding guards.

WESLEY W. HOOLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 38,123 Piggott et al Apr. 7, 1863 515,603 Moon Feb. 27, 1894 1,305,088 Gillespie May 27, 1919 1,587,862 Rutishauser et al. June 8, 1926 1,598,843 Bauercamper Sept. 7, 1926 1,610,498 Duckett Dec. 14, 1926 2,138,711 Rohwer Nov. 29, 1938 2,263,886 Munro Nov. 25, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 47,428 France Jan. 28, 1937 

